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Saudi Arabia arrests 701 terrorism suspects

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-25 22:53

RIYADH  -- Saudi Arabia has detained 701 suspects of different nationalities in recent months for involvement in terrorist activities, an official source at the interior ministry said on Wednesday.

Saudi security forces have arrested 701 suspects during operations against deviant groups "targeting the country's principles, security, economy and way of life," the unidentified source was quoted by official SPA news agency as saying.

Among the 701 suspects, "181 have been released," while the rest 520 are still in custody for links to terrorist activities, said the source.

These suspects "in fact began to plot to target an oil installation and another security (facilities) with car bombs," the report said, without giving any further details.

"They have been working through planning and recruitment to revive the criminal activities" in the oil-rich Gulf kingdom so as to sabotage the internal security situation, the report said.

These suspects are also accused of raising money by all means " so as to support their terror activities inside and outside the country," said the report.

Moreover, the suspects took advantage of "communication facilities" to facilitate pilgrims who come to visit Islam's holy sites in the kingdom, it said.

Saudi officials use deviant groups to term the al-Qaida network. The arrests announced on Wednesday were seen as the largest so far in Saudi Arabia, which has in the past reported large militant arrests.